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Nominations open for 2011 Du Pré Grants

We are pleased to announce that nominations for the second round of the MSIF's 2011 Du Pré Grants for research into MS are open.

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Suppression of TH17 differentiation and autoimmunity by a synthetic ROR ligand

The authors present experimental findings of the effects of SR1001, a selective inverse agonist at retinoic-acid-receptor-related orphan receptors (ROR) on autoimmune disease in mice. ROR activation is important in the differentiation of Th17 cells which are implicated in a number of autoimmune conditions.

Key findings from the research include the inhibition of Th17 development, subsequent IL-17A secretion, and cytokine expression following addition of SR1001 to splenocytes cultured under Th17 polarizing conditions. SR1001 also suppressed the clinical severity of MOG EAE in mice.

authors: Laura A. Solt, Naresh Kumar, Philippe Nuhant, Yongjun Wang, Janelle L. Lauer, Jin Liu, Monica A. Istrate, Theodore M. Kamenecka, William R. Roush, Dušica Vidović, Stephan C. Schürer, Jihong Xu, Gail Wagoner, Paul D. Drew, Patrick R. Griffin, Thomas, P. Burris

source: Nature (2011) doi:10.1038/nature10075, advance online publication

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Differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells into functional oligodendrocytes

The authors describe a novel protocol for the differentiation of mouse pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) into oligodendrocytes. They aimed to investigate the feasibility of iPS stem cell-based therapy for demyelinating disorders and report that the protocol described results in the generation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells that can develop into mature, myelinating oligodendrocytes in-vitro (co-culture with DRG neurons), as well as in-vivo after implantation in the demyelinated corpus callosum of cuprizone-treated mice.

authors: Czepiel M, Balasubramaniyan V, Schaafsma W, Stancic M, Mikkers H, Huisman C, Boddeke E, Copray S.

source: Glia. 2011 Jun;59(6):882-92. doi: 10.1002/glia.21159. Epub 2011 Mar 24.

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Delivery of healthy babies after natalizumab use for multiple sclerosis: a report of two cases

This brief report from the authors represents the first published report of safety of natalizumab during pregnancy in women with multiple sclerosis. One patient used natalizumab in the periconceptional period, and the other patient used it in both the periconceptional period and throughout gestation. The antenatal course of the first patient was complicated by an MS relapse. The second patient did not experience MS relapses during pregnancy, while still using natalizumab. Both babies were born without any detectable abnormality up to the sixth week of follow up. Further data will be required before we can fully understand the safety implications of using natalizumab during pregnancy.

authors: Hoevenaren IA, de Vries LC, Rijnders RJ, Lotgering FK.

source: Acta Neurol Scand. 2011 Jun;123(6):430-433.

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MS research positions available at the University of British Columbia

Two positions are available within the Division of Neurology at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, under the supervision of Dr Helen Tremlett.

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